Included in Madame Gerdy's lease was a coach-house, which was used by her as a lumber room.

Here were heaped together all the old rubbish of the household, broken pieces of furniture, utensils past service, articles become useless or cumbrous.

It was also used to store the provision of wood and coal for the winter.

This old coach-house had a small door opening on the street, which had been in disuse for many years; but which Noel had had secretly repaired and provided with a lock.

He could thus enter or leave the house at any hour without the concierge or any one else knowing.